Friday, October 30, 2009

"GPS"

At a zone conference not long ago, Sister Slovacek did a training on the importance of having a GPS= "Great Personal Study". We know that is vital to missionary work, but we have also learned the importance of having a GSP when driving in the Czech Republic. This month we started an outreach every Wednesday in the city of Hradecs Kralove, which is approximately 90 miles east of Prague. Our GPS has safely and accurately taken us to our destination and home again, although "we" have wanted to argue with it, we have learned to have faith in our GPS. What a great experience we have had in Hradecs. The first week only these three young people came, along with the missionaries.

After just four weeks we are up to eleven young people!!

There are some sweet miracles happening there. Many Mongolians are joining the church and I asked the Elders how they teach people who understand a little English and a little Czech? They told me they have Preach My Gospel in Mongolian, English and Czech. They point to the section in the book they want to explain and then the Holy Ghost does the teaching.
(Is that not faith!?!)


Last week we didn't have a car available and so we took the train. It was fun and relaxing to travel the rails and enjoy the countryside fly by. (No arguing with the GPS!)

Some family home evenings in Prague. . .
Writing thank you notes after a lesson on gratitude.


Two of the original church pioneers in the Czech Republic. Sestras Vilymova and Novakova came and shared their testimonies.


Last Thursday as I sat in the institute class in Prague my heart was touched and my eyes filled with tears as I observed 19 (a record attendance) gathered together with a desire to learn the gospel from the Book of Mormon, gain strength from each other and keep the commandments. It is a privilege to be apart of this work.


Sunday, October 11, 2009

Just alot of FUN?!?

"Zoo, zoo, zoo we're going to the zoo. . "
One of my favorite jokes has to do with taking a pig to the zoo, next time you see me I'll share it with you, in the mean time we took the young adults to the Prague Zoo.
It is a beautiful zoo and it was a perfect autumn day!


Some of our favorite sights........


Yertle the gigantic turtle....


the giraffe habitat


Gorilla. . .

up close and personal!!!



We went on a "vylet" with the office staff to Karlstejn Castle.
(So what do you do on your P-day?)

It was once the place where the kings jewels and some "holy artifacts" were kept. It is said to have had two thorns from Jesus' crown, a tooth of John the Baptist and the arm of St. Anne. We didn't see them and no one offered to show them to us.


Always great fun with the Elders!?!

We also climbed up Knezi Hora, which is right behind the castle, this the place where on
July 24, 1939 the country of Czechoslovakia was dedicated to the preaching of the gospel by
Elder John H. Widstoe. Elder Russell M. Nelson returned to this same spot in 1990 and offered a prayer of thanksgiving and rededication. Very appropriate that the name of the mountain is Priest Hill.


This monument was erected to mark the place. It is a beautiful secluded little grove. The original bronze marker was stolen and so we brought with us the replica which fits perfectly in the spot !





More views from the grove.


Last week was transfer week and this was our last District Meeting with this group. We love these missionaries so much and have to share some of them with the rest of the mission. Of course we think they are the BEST missionaries in the world!!!